Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists are effective for induction and maintenance of perianal fistula response and remission in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), a systematic review and meta-analysis shows in the December issue of Clinical Gastoenterology and Hepatology. However, there are few data on the effects on internal fistulae, and further studies

Endoscopic therapy of T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) yields more quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and is more cost effective than esophagectomy, shows a Markov model analysis published in the March issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. However, therapy for T1b EAC should be selected based on patients’ age and comorbidities. Although EAC has

When patients with Crohn’s disease in sustained remission stopped taking infliximab for a median 7 years, almost one fifth did not require retreatment or have a major complication, researchers report in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Fewer than one fifth of patients required surgery or developed a complex perianal fistula. Increasing numbers of patients

Low-risk intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms have an almost 8% chance of progressing to pancreatic cancer within 10 years, whereas higher-risk IPMNs have almost 25% chance, reports a systematic review and meta-analysis in the October issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Continued long-term surveillance is therefore important for patients with low-risk, as

In patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), surgical treatment of ileocolonic anastomosis strictures reduces risk of further surgery compared with endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD), researchers report in the August issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. However, endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) delays time until need for a second surgery; EBD should be therefore attempted first

In a phase 2 study, researchers found no difference between a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) tablet and a placebo tablet in reducing pain measures in patients with chronic abdominal pain from pancreatitis or surgery. Authors Marjan de Vries and Harry van Goor explain their findings in their video abstract: The study was

In patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis, total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) reduces pain and requirements for narcotic therapy, and increases quality of life, researchers report in the September issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. This treatment should be considered when medical and endoscopic therapies have failed. Recurrent acute pancreatitis, caused

Researchers have developed mice that develop focal, resectable pancreatic tumors closely resembling human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) that can be used to test adjuvant therapies, according to new research in the August issue of Gastroenterology. The authors show that administration of gemcitabine after resection of the tumors activates natural killer (NK) cell-mediated

Not all patients with multiple episodes of diverticulitis should undergo preventative surgery, shows a Markov decision model published in the January 2016 issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Elective surgery after 2 episodes produces fewer quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) than surgery after 3 episodes or conservative or medical treatments, the model found.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be isolated from portal venous blood collected during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) of patients with pancreaticobiliary cancers, researchers report in the December issue of Gastroenterology. CTCs isolated from peripheral blood of patients with metastatic breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer can be analyzed to predict patient survival. However, blood samples from

About the Author

Dr. Kristine Novak is the science editor for Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She has worked as an editor at biomedical research journals and as a science writer for 15 years, covering advances in gastroenterology, hepatology, cancer, immunology, biotechnology, molecular genetics, and clinical trials. She has a PhD in cell biology and an interest in all areas of medical research.